Job Description
The Senior Planning Engineer is responsible for leading the development, monitoring, and control of project schedules for large-scale construction and infrastructure projects. The role ensures that project activities are effectively planned, monitored, and executed in accordance with contractual requirements, approved schedules, project budgets, and company objectives. The Senior Planning Engineer provides planning leadership to project teams by managing project controls activities, analyzing project performance, identifying schedule risks, and implementing corrective actions to ensure successful project delivery within established milestones.
Responsibilities
- Develop, review, and maintain baseline schedules, detailed project execution programs, recovery schedules, and revised construction programs using Primavera P6, Microsoft Project, and other approved planning software.
- Prepare comprehensive Work Breakdown Structures (WBS), project calendars, activity logic networks, critical path schedules, and project execution plans in accordance with contractual and project requirements.
- Lead planning coordination with Project Managers, Construction Managers, Site Engineers, Procurement, Engineering, Commercial, QA/QC, HSE, and subcontractor teams to collect progress data and maintain accurate project schedules.
- Monitor project performance against approved baseline schedules, identify delays, productivity issues, schedule variances, and critical risks while recommending mitigation measures and recovery strategies.
- Prepare and review Time Impact Analyses (TIA), Extension of Time (EOT) claims, delay analyses, disruption assessments, and other contractual planning submissions in accordance with contract requirements.
- Prepare weekly, monthly, and executive progress reports, dashboards, S-curves, KPI reports, earned value analyses (EVM), look-ahead schedules, and project forecasts for senior management and clients.
- Support tendering and business development activities by preparing tender schedules, baseline programs, resource-loaded schedules, procurement schedules, manpower histograms, and cash flow projections.
- ·Coordinate planning activities with Procurement, Commercial, Cost Control, Engineering, and Construction teams to ensure alignment between project schedules, budgets, procurement plans, and execution strategies.
- Monitor critical paths, project milestones, procurement activities, engineering deliverables, and construction interfaces to ensure timely project completion.
- Participate in project progress meetings, planning workshops, client meetings, and management review sessions while providing planning expertise and schedule recommendations for effective decision-making.
- Coordinate with QA/QC, HSE, and Project Controls teams to ensure planning activities comply with company procedures, contractual obligations, and project governance requirements.
- Support commercial and contract management teams in dispute resolution, claims preparation, forensic schedule analysis, and contractual correspondence through accurate planning records and schedule documentation.
- Maintain comprehensive planning documentation, including approved schedules, revisions, progress updates, planning registers, delay logs, recovery plans, and historical project records.
- Identify opportunities to improve planning methodologies, project controls systems, reporting processes, and scheduling standards to enhance project performance and operational efficiency.
Requirements
- Strong leadership and project planning capabilities.
- Excellent knowledge of project controls, scheduling methodologies, and construction planning techniques.
- Strong analytical, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills.
- Excellent reporting, presentation, and communication abilities.
- Strong organizational and time management skills with the ability to manage multiple complex projects simultaneously.
- Advanced proficiency in Primavera P6, Microsoft Project, Microsoft Excel, and project reporting systems.
- Strong understanding of contract administration, claims management, delay analysis, and risk management.
- Ability to work effectively under pressure while meeting demanding project deadlines.
- Commitment to quality, operational excellence, continuous improvement, and accurate project reporting.
- High standards of professionalism, integrity, accountability, and attention to detail.
Work Environment
- Based at corporate offices and project sites as required.
- Close collaboration with Project Directors, Project Managers, Construction Managers, Engineering, Procurement, Commercial, Cost Control, QA/QC, HSE, Consultants, Clients, and Subcontractors to support effective project planning and controls.
- Fast-paced environment supporting multiple large-scale construction and infrastructure projects across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, requiring advanced · planning expertise, proactive project controls, and continuous monitoring of project performance to achieve contractual milestones and successful project delivery.
Qualifications
- Bachelor's Degree in Civil Engineering, Construction Management, Project Management, or a related engineering discipline.
- Professional certification such as PMP, PMI-SP, AACE, PSP (Planning & Scheduling Professional), or equivalent is preferred.
- Minimum 7–12 years of experience in project planning and scheduling within the construction industry, including experience on large-scale building, infrastructure, or mega projects.
- Previous experience with main contractors managing high-rise buildings, hospitality developments, mixed-use projects, or major infrastructure works is highly preferred.
- Advanced proficiency in Primavera P6, Microsoft Project, Microsoft Office applications, and project controls software.
- Comprehensive knowledge of Critical Path Method (CPM), Earned Value Management (EVM), resource planning, delay analysis, project controls, and scheduling best practices.
- Strong understanding of FIDIC contracts, Extension of Time (EOT) claims, forensic schedule analysis, and contractual planning requirements.
- Experience with ERP systems, Power BI, Oracle Primavera Unifier, or equivalent project management platforms is considered an advantage.
- Knowledge of GCC construction practices, Saudi regulations, and industry standards is highly preferred.
